Fast labour: Anyone else had one? How was yours?

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I had a fast labour with DS1. From first contraction to birth was 2 hours total. I am now 36 weeks pregnant with DD1.

If I hear anyone else say I was l was lucky to have a fast labour I'll scream!!!! It wasn't great. My baby was in distress, probably because it was so fast - they couldn't find a heartbeat. After being asked by the midwife several times 'When did you last feel your baby move?' I was convinced that I was going to have a stillbirth. I had to have an emergency forceps delivery with episiotomy which was very painful for weeks afterwards. And in addition to all that I was in shock for quite a while afterwards - the speed of the labour hadn't given me any time to get used to the idea.

I now also have the added complication of what to do with my toddler when I go into labour next time because I have been told to go straight to hospital. I've got a list of local people who can take him, so hopefully it will work out ok. But the midwifes at my hospital have been very helpful in telling me that - even in an emergency - they don't like you to bring your children with you. What do I do if I go into labour in the supermarket? Leave him with the checkout staff??

I've got a couple of questions for anyone else who has been 'lucky' to experience a fast labour...

Did you drink Raspberry Leaf Tea before you went into labour. I took tablets for a week before my 1st labour - only the dose recommended on the bottle. But I'm wondering if this had an effect.

Did you have strong Braxton Hicks contractions in late stage of labour? I had very painful Braxton Hicks for about 6 weeks before I gave birth. I have heard mixed opinions. Some say that BH help to dilate the cervix. Others say it has no effect. This time I've had no BH yet. Does this mean I'm less likely to have a fast labour?

Sorry to rant and sound ungrateful. I really wouldn't want a long labour either, and I feel sorry for women who say they were in labour for 48 hours. I also have to be grateful that my son was fine in the end. But it would be nice to have a labour which is a tiny bit slower...

Hi,

I had a fast labour with dd (just over 2 hours) and I know how you feel when people say we're lucky. I didn't feel lucky at all. Mine doesn't sound anywhere near as shocking as yours (mw treated me like crap - assumed I was over-reacting first timer, gave pethidine to shut me up which then meant dd wouldn't latch on so bf didn't work out, didn't trust her to stitch tear so was left unstitched, ended up with pnd).

I did take raspberry leaf tablets (again just the recommended dose) and will do again this time around as I felt it helped my uterus contract back down afterwards.

I had no braxton hicks (well none that I was aware of). I haven't felt any this time round but at a scan I had I was told I was having one .

This time round I'm planning a homebirth (means I don't have to worry about giving birth in a car and means I don't have to worry about childcare). I've actually booked with an Independent Midwife and they have said to call at any sign I might be going into labour.

Tbh it's fairly unlikely you'll go into labour when out & about as you tend to go into labour when you're relaxed so I'd imagine that when you're out and worrying about what you'd do with ds then your body won't 'let' itself go into labour iyswim. If it did happen I'd just take him with you...what else do they expect you to do . Do you have someone you could call at any time to meet you at the hospital to pick ds up?

Oh meant to add that there's no telling really if this time will be as quick...I've been told that there's a chance I am one of those women that has precipitous labours (i.e. v quick labours) but I could also be one of those women whose bodies essentially reverse their first & second labours (i.e. this one could be a longer, more average labour - so quick first, slow second as opposed to the usual slower first and quicker second iyswim)

DD1 was 4 hours from start to finish.
DD2 I had latent labour for about 3 hours. Just mild random contractions, no pain. Waters broke and she flew out 20 minutes later. Surprised us all but no poblems at all, although I was a bit shakey and shocked.
I did have strong BH all the way through pregnancy from about 20 weeks but didn't take raspberry leaf anything. She was 11 days overdue.

I had 3 fast labours. 4 hours start to finish, 1 hour start to finish and 5 hours start to finish (actually went in at first niggle with DS3 as was high risk and 2 weeks early)

never took raspberry leaf tea in any form.

Braxton Hicks are "practice contractions" so you wouldn't have them in ;late labour but yes i had them with DS1, was in a lot of pain with SPD with DS2 and had an irritable uterus with DS3 so couldn't tell you if i had BH then!!

I was constantly monitored with DS3 and they lost his heartbeat for a worryingly long time, he too was distressed and was born in meconium waters. it was just him moving down and turning, the monitors moving up (because of a change in belly shape) and my anterior placenta getting in teh way.

Thanks for that craftynclothy. It's nice to know that someone understands that fast labours aren't a bed of roses!

I do have a friend who is happy to come and meet me (if she is around). She lives and works fairly near to the hospital. There are a few days when she is going to be away though. In addition I've got friends and relatives who live locally, but a lot of them are busy during the day. My mum is coming from just before the due date onwards, so I'm covered from then. DH works between half an hour and 1 hour from home, so I can't always rely on him to get there on time. DS1 was born on the due date, so it would be nice is DD1 is just as punctual! I just wish that midwifes would be a little bit more understanding! When I asked midwife today what would happen if I had to bring my son with me in a dire emergency, she told me that they aren't a babysitting service - no s*!

It's great that you are having a homebirth. I would have considered it if I hadn't had complications the first time round.

My 6th birth was was under 1hr 30mins from first pain to delivery.
Didn't have raspberry leaf tea.
Had no indication that it was going to happen. Was 10 days overdue and booked for induction the next day.
Very straightforward and was brilliant.

4 precipitous labours, dd1 was 2hrs 20 in total and born at home, dd2 was 1hr 40 and arrived 3 weeks early when i was in dublin, got to teh hospital 3 mins before she was born

ds1 was 1hr 11, born at home, and ds2 was 22 mins born in hospital by induction, because they were worried i would have an unattended labour

they broke my water and that was that

all of them were earlier than my due dates

the only one i had pain relief for was ds2, and that was a few whiffs of gas and air(bloody lovely stuff)

incidentally, after i had dd1 we were transferred to hospital, because during the unexpected hb, she got the cord round her neck tightly and couldnt find her heartbeat, plus she came with her head facing the wrong way, so i had a 3rd degree tear and extended episiotomy

the midwife said i shouldnt have been able to push her out really, the way she was coming

there were no dramas with the other 3 though, and each time i tore less (no stitches at all for the last 2)